Factors Influencing Fear of Falling in Postmenopausal Women

Ahn, Sukhee; Kim, Huynli; So, Heeyoung; Song, Rhayun

doi:2009.15.4.344

Korean J Women Health Nurs > Volume 15(4); 2009 > Article

Original Article

Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing 2009;15(4):344-352.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4069/kjwhn.2009.15.4.344

Factors Influencing Fear of Falling in Postmenopausal Women

Sukhee Ahn, Huynli Kim, Heeyoung So, Rhayun Song

College of Nursing, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea. hlkim@cnu.ac.kr

Abstract

PURPOSE
The study was to identify influencing factors on fear of falling in postmenopausal women. METHODS: With a correlational survey design, 125 postmenopausal women were recruited at the D metropolitan city by a convenience sampling. Fracture risk status was assessed by bone mineral densities (BMD) at lumbar and femur with DEXA method. A structured study questionnaire was used to measure demographic variables, osteoporosis self-efficacy, and fear of falling. RESULTS: Mean age of the subjects was 59 years old and duration since menopause was 9.55 years. Twenty six percent of the subjects belonged to osteoporotic group in fracture risk status. Mean score for fear of falling was 16.10 (SD=5.18) indicating low level, and osteoporosis self-efficacy for exercise and diet was 44.76 (SD=7.41), indicating mid-range level. Factors influencing the fear of falling was longer time since menopause (beta=.30), lower score of osteoporosis self-efficacy for exercise (beta=-.26), poor health perception status (beta=-.16), and presence of chronic disease (beta=.16), and the explained variance was 20%. CONCLUSION: Although the level of fear of falling was yet low in postmenopausal women, women who had lower self-efficacy of osteoporosis for exercise and poorer health perception felt greater fear of falling. Therefore, an educational program specific to improve osteoporosis self-efficacy and reduce the fear of falling is needed for improving postmenopausal women's psychosocial well-being.

Key Words: Menopause; Bone mineral density; Fracture; Fall; Osteoporosis